Robert i



(No Model.) 7

R. L. OWEN.

' GAS DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

No. 573,996. Patented Dec. 29, 1896..

ATTOH/VE Y.

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES A PATENT FFICE.

ROBERT L. OWVEN, OF HUSC-OGEE, INDIAN TERRITORY.

GAS-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,996, dated December29, 1896. Application filed. March 3, 1896. Serial No. 581,722. (Nomodel.)

Be it known that 1, ROBERT L. OWEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Muscogee, in the Indian Territory, in the UnitedStates of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety Gas-Distributing Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification. i

In the lighting of buildings by acetylene gas isolated plants areusually employed. The gas is supplied in liquefied state in a receiverunder pressure of about six hundred pounds to the square inch, and alBClllGll'lgvalve is employed between the receiver and thedistributing-pipes, whereby the pressure is reduced in the latter toabout two ounces to the square inch, more or less. In case of leakage oraccident to the reducing-valve the pressure in the distributing-pipes isliable to become excessive and dangerous, and in case of fire the heatis liableto cause an explosion of the receiver and endanger lives andinjure the building. I

The-object of this invention is to provide an individual plant anddistributing apparatus for acetylene gas which will be safe in use andalso in case of fire.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a fragment of a room ofa buildin g havingthis gas apparatus located therein. Fig. 2 representsa longitudinal section of the regulated automatic valve on thelow-pressure side of the apparatus. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinalsection of the regulated automatic valve on the high-pressure side ofthe apparatus. i

The same reference-numerals indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The acetylene-holders 10 and 20 are constructed in the usual manner ofsteel or other suitable material and contain the acetylene gas inliquefied form. Two holders are preferably employed, and pipes 11 and 21connect these holders with a pipe 30, leading to a reducing-valve 40.This reducing-valve is of any suitable construction. A service-pipeleads from the low-pressure side of the reducing-valve for distributingthe gas at low pressure throughout the building.

A branch pipe is connected with the pipe 30 between the acetylene-holderand the reducing-valve. An escape-pipe 61 connects the pipe 60 with theescape-pipe 100, which extends through the wall of the building to theexterior atmosphere. A safety-valve is located in the pipe 60 orconnected with it in such a manner as to relieve the pressure on thehigh-pressure side of the reducingvalve when said pressure becomesexcessive, permitting the gas to flow out through the escape-pipe. Thissafety-valve may be of anysuitable construction. When constructed asshown, it comprises the sliding plugvalve 71, adapted to slidein thepipe 60, which constitutes a valve-chamber. A valve-seat 72, of anysuitable construction, is disposed in the pipe 60, against which thevalve 71 is seated when closed. Disposed in the rear of the plug-valve71 is a spiral spring 73, similar to a car-spring or other form ofspring adapted to sustain high pressure. This spring normally holds thevalve '71 against its seat in opposition to the pressure of the gasin-the pipe 30. A screw-plug 74 in the pipe 60 regulates the pressure ofthe spring 73. The

valve may be set at a normal pressure of one thousand pounds per squareinch.

A safety-valve S0, of any suitable construction, is disposed on thelow-pressure side of 'the reducing-valve.

As shown, this safetyvalve is disposed in a branch pipe 90, and anescape-pipe 91 connects it with the outer at mosphere, preferablythrough the escape-pipe 100. The safety-valve may be of any suitableconstruction and is preferably adjustable to operate at any desired lowpressure. This safety-valve may be in the form of an ordinary water-gagetube if desired. When constructed as shown, this safety-valve comprisesa sliding plug-valve 81, normally held against the valve-seat 82 by aspiral spring83, of much less tension than the spring '73 of the Valve70. A plug 84 is adjustable in the pipe 90, constituting thevalve-chamber, by means of a screw-threaded angular flange 85, whichengages exterior screw-threads on the outer end of said pipe. A screw 84may be used to regulate the tension of this spring. This safety-valvemay be in the form of an ordinary water-gage tube if desired.

The receivers, pipes, and valves are preferably inclosed in a casing120, where they are not liable to be tampered with.

In case a fire in the building heats the liquefied gas in the receiversbeyond a safe tension, say one thousand pounds per square inch, thepressure of the gas or liquid will cause the safety-valve 70 to open andthe dangerous pressure will be relieved by the escape of the gas to theouter atmosphere through the escape-pipe 100. In case of leakage in thereducing-valve or from other cause the pressure in the distributing-pipebecomes excessive the safety-valve 80 will open and the pressure will berelieved by escape of the gas through the escape-pipe 100.

I claim as my invention 1. In a gas apparatus, the combination of avessel for containing the gas in a liquid or gaseous form,aservice-pipe,a reducing-valve between the service-pipe and said vessel,a high safety-Valve on the high-pressure side of the reducingvalve, a10W safety-valve on the low-pressure side of the reducing-valve, andmeans for permitting the escape of gas from said safety-valve.

2. A gas-distributing apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, twovessels disposed in said casing for containing gas in a liquid orgaseous form under pressure, a pipe connecting said vessels, areducing-valve, a pipe connecting one side of said reducing-valve withsaid connecting-pipe, a service-pipe connected with one side of saidreducing-valve,

a high safety-valve on the high-pressure side

